Will be nice to have that huge warehouse gone, but the surrounding area really needs help. The road itself is nearly just gravel. Will be interesting to see how this affects the neighborhood. More units coming in close proximity to downtown is good though.

A bit surprising to hear about this as it's right next to the sometimes noisy and busy Santa Fe (recently expanded to double tracks) lines. No bluff views or much in the way of downtown views unless the new construction goes multi-story (four floors or higher) But the developers may have gotten a good deal on the land offsetting construction costs while the rental rates at the nearby apartments due west on Samuels Avenue seem to be stable and high. More project details would be needed (number of units, single family, townhomes, or apartments, etc.) and of course, a City variance/waiver of zoning restrictions. Another downside might be from rising property values in this traditionally working class Hispanic residential area called Rock Island. But the effects of gentrification are already evident on Samuels Avenue and one look while driving down the street shows a number of larger parcels offered for redevelopment. I've heard rumors of on-going land deals north of the current redeveloped areas but its premature and the available information is too scarce to do more than mention it in passing. Then again, back in 2008 it seemed probable the entire neighborhood would be redeveloped in just a few years, but the Great Recession arrived and quenched any new development fervor for a while. After 26 years of living on Samuels and having friends who live in the eastern Rock Island residential area, it seems inevitable all of it will be redeveloped in the years to come. Only the timeline remains for speculation. It will be interesting to observe if this is the start of a new development initiative east of Samuels or not. I'll post here if more information about other development in the neighborhood surfaces in the months to come. Single family new dwellings would be very welcome to offset the blocks of apartments on the south end of Samuels so this could potentially change the direction of new development in the neighborhood. I think a gated residential area might be security overkill but might justify dwellings in a higher price range-David Weekley Homes has offered in recent months some single family units to the south in the Hillside area priced at $760k and above. Thanks Austin55 for sharing.

The Design Review Board meeting took place yesterday (Jan. 28) at 2:00 PM. Does anyone know if the 701 Hampton, LLC project (Gated Community) waiver requests were approved, denied, or sent back for revision?

Civil engineering firm Dunaway Associates is working with developer StoneHawk Capital to build a four-story apartment complex and town homes at 701 Hampton Avenue, the site of the old RadioShack warehouse. The DDRB approved the project, which will be sent to the City Plan Commission for approval.

"The DDRB (Downtown Design Review Board) approved the project which will be sent to the City Plan Commission for approval" Although that doesn't mean its a done deal, it does suggest the City would prefer to see some new residential development there than the long vacant warehouses and weedy lots. I do hope they have some noise abatement measures in place as an earth view shows the strip of land for the proposed project sits between two sets of (busy) railroad tracks. We were told in a meeting with BNSF officials several years ago when they were adding a second track next to the old one that in closing Peach street, they would put a "no horn zone" in place to minimize increased rail traffic noise. Either their conductors can't read or they were not being truthful with neighborhood residents.

I noted on Monday a new sign near the intersection of Peach Street and Hampton posted by a developer who is seeking to buy "available lots" from individuals interested in selling. I don't know if this is related to the 701 Hampton project (about a block away) or not. I'm somewhat surprised to see development here in the Rock Island section of the neighborhood with all the vacant land and lots still available on Samuels Avenue.

I don't see that location as conducive to "market rate" rents. That said there is a need for subsidized housing for the many lower-wage tier workers in downtown who are necessary to maintain the hospitality and service industry there. This construction is at best a temporary use of the land as it is likely to be replaced when market value rises at some point in the future. I also see potential for disaster in the event of a toxic spill from the many freight tracks in that area. This property would be best used to consolidate the many and varied freight tracks in that area into a "union" line that could be lowered below street level through the downtown area and under the Tower 51 interchange. The areas on either side of these tracks should be set aside as buffer and insulated from the surrounding community with berms and trees; I would encourage community leaders, included and elected and appointed, to consider the long-term future of this historic and potentially important part of downtown when considering tying up this land for the next 20 - 30 years.

Austin, thanks for posting the siteplan. I agree with John S and RD that this isn't a very desirable location. The trains that pass through here are far from quiet and this lot is right between the two railroads - no thanks! Even without the trains, the area is not very nice, some of the other planned developments in the Samuels Ave area seem more attractive.

Everytime I see an oil train parked on that overpass, I remember that event in Quebec where the guy failed to set the breaks!

There really needs to be some kind of effort initiated to consolidate all the various train tracks there into one well-designed, secured, depressed, and possibly even roofed-over corridor as is done in many parts of the world.